The Sardinian Masks Of The Mamoiada Carnival

sardinia,pagan rituals,mamoiada,sardinian spring festival,mamuthones,issohadores,escape to sardinia,sardinia history

The Mamuthones and the Issohadores are the mysterious masked characters in the carnival of Mamoiada. The carnival celebrates the ritual od The masks are carved entirely from wood and are specifically made for the occasion by expert craftsmen. The mask of the Mamuthone, also known as Bisera, is painted black and comes exclusively from the bark of a wild pear tree. The Issohadores are from the alder tree and is painted white. The interpretations of this ritual are complex. The dance of the procession dancers is a ritual influenced by local agricultural myths. The dance is supposed to symbolize the reawakening of Nature in spring. It also has historical meaning.


Big thanks to Sardegna Digital Library for allowing us to post this video.

Titolo: La Maschera
Autore: Cau Antonello
Montaggio: Garau Riccardo
Riprese: Cau Antonello

Bookmark and Share
Tagged as: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Leave a Response